Superior Court

Appellate Courts

Supreme Judicial Court

The SJC is the Commonwealth's highest appellate court responsible for the general superintendence of the judiciary and of the bar, makes or approves rules for the operations of all the courts, and in certain instances, provides advisory opinions, upon request, to the Governor and Legislature on various legal issues.

Appeals Court

The Appeals Court receives cases from all of the Trial Court departments and from three State agencies - the Appellate Tax Board, the Department of Industrial Accidents and the Commonwealth Employment Relations Board. The Appeals Court considers all types of civil cases and all types of criminal cases except first degree murder appeals, which go directly to the Supreme Judicial Court.